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Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2768-0487/045
1Clinical Pathologist, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka.
2Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
3Resident Medical Officer, National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital, Dhaka.
4Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
5Medical Officer, Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka.
6MD(Laboratory Medicine), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
7Professor, Ortho-surgery, National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation
8MS in Microbiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences.
9Professor and Chairman, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
10Professor and Ex-Chairman, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
*Corresponding Author: Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, MS in Microbiology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences.
Citation: S Z F Udita, S Ferdousi, Tanveer A Chowdhury, Mst S Yasmin, Mesbah U Ahmed. et al.(2021) Association of Serum Osteocalcin and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio with Bone Mineral Density for the Diagnosis of Osteoporosis. Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Research. 3(4); DOI:10.31579/2768-0487/045
Copyright: © 2021 Mesbah Uddin Ahmed. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Received: 26 August 2021 | Accepted: 11 September 2021 | Published: 18 September 2021
Keywords: bone mineral density; osteoporosis; osteopenia; t-score; osteocalcin; neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
Introduction: Osteoporosis is often under diagnosed, under treated and imposed a considerable economic burden on the health system. About two fifth of the post-menopausal women of Bangladesh are affected. Early diagnosis is necessary to halt the disease process. Serum osteocalcin, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) increases and bone mineral density (BMD) decreases in osteoporosis. There is no specific diagnostic test for osteoporosis except BMD. It is costly, has radiation hazard and not available in all laboratories in our country. On the other hand, serum osteocalcin and NLR are easily available and a promising marker which can be done as routine blood test for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the association of serum osteocalcin and NLR with BMD for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from March, 2020 to February, 2021. A total 50 diagnosed patient of osteoporosis, who fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as study population. They were grouped as normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis according to T-score of BMD report. Serum osteocalcin and NLR evaluated from routine blood test. Statistical analysis was done by statistical package for social science (SPSS) software windows version 22.
Results: Negative Pearson’s correlation was found between serum osteocalcin with T-score of BMD (r=-0.812, p=0.002) and between NLR with T-score of BMD (r=-0.826, p=0.001). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, cut off value of serum osteocalcin was 18.65 ng/mL having sensitivity 67.0% and specificity 70.0% with a cut off value of NLR was 4.54 with sensitivity 72.0% and specificity 75.0%.
Conclusion: Serum osteocalcin and NLR has significant negative correlation with T-score of BMD. Because of high sensitivity and specificity, serum osteocalcin and NLR may be used to diagnosis of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a serious public health concern due to its important worldwide prevalence. Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed, undertreated and imposed a considerable economic burden on the health system [4]. During lifetime 30-50% of women and 15-30% of men are at risk to osteoporosis all over the world [12, 7]. Currently it is estimated that, about 1.6 million hip fractures occur each year worldwide [8]. The incidence is increase to 6.3 million by 2050. Among them more than 50% will occur in Asia [8]. In Bangladesh, 43.6% of 16-45 years old women and 40.70% of 46-65 years old women had osteopenia and 5.5% of 16-45 old women and 41.80% of 46-65 years old women had osteoporosis [1]. Its prevalence is increasing with menopause, vitamin D deficiency, low body weight, low intake of calcium, some diseases and use of some medications [8]. Therefore, it is necessary to find out an easy, reliable, cost effective marker for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. Serum osteocalcin is a single blood-based laboratory test for the diagnosis of osteoporosis with good sensitivity and specificity. It is an accessible, easily performed and has a better role for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. On the other hand, NLR is also a simple, cost effective, repeatable and less hazardous tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. It can be done in small setup with minimum laboratory facilities. Though BMD is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, it has some limitations, like risk of radiation exposure, presence of metal may interfere the result of test, needs expertise, not available in routine hospital setup. In this study, we try to explore the role of serum osteocalcin and NLR in comparison with BMD for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Study design: Cross-sectional study
Study duration: March 2020 to February 2021
Place of study: The study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, BSMMU and DMCH, Dhaka.
Study population: All clinically suspected patients of osteoporosis from outpatient department (OPD) of Department of Orthopedic Surgery, BSMMU and DMCH was enrolled in to the study. Diagnosis of osteoporosis patient was conducted by history taking and measurement of BMD by DEXA scan.
Inclusion criteria: Female over 45 years of age and Male over 50 years of age.
Exclusion criteria: Acute infection, Chronic infection, Malignancies, Diabetes mellitus, Acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, Hyperparathyroidism, Liver disease, Renal disease, Intestinal malabsorption, Hormonal therapy, Use of some medications like antacids containing aluminum, anticonvulsant drugs, steroids, heparin, methotrexate, etc.
Sample size: As per inclusion criteria available diagnosed case of osteoporotic patients were enrolled in this study. Sample size was 89. Sample was collected 50 due to COVID-19 pandemic situation. Among them 8 were normal, 32 were osteopenic patients and 10 were osteoporotic patients.
Sampling technique: Purposive sampling was followed. As per selection criteria the patients are enrolled in this study. The whole procedure was explained to the participants and informed consent of both verbal and written was taken.
Study procedure
After ethical clearance from Institutional Review Board (IRB), diagnosed case of osteoporosis according to BMD report, who were attended in OPD of Department of Orthopedic Surgery, BSMMU and DMCH, was selected.
After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria the patient was included in this study and full explanation regarding the aims, objectives of the study and necessity of the investigation was informed.
At first age and sex matched osteoporosis patients diagnosed by BMD reports was taken.
Then blood sample of the patient was drawn for serum osteocalcin and NLR. It was done at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, BSMMU.
Blood sample collection
Blood sample was collected from antecubital vein after aseptic precaution with 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate. About 4.0 mL venous blood was taken into red tube (2.0 mL) and violet tube (2.0 mL). Tube was labeled with the patient’s identification number and kept it for 30 minutes. Then blood was centrifuged 3000 rpm for 5 minutes.
For serum osteocalcin
Blood sample: 2 mL.
Tube: Red screw capped plain tube without anticoagulant.
Specimen: Serum.
For NLR
Blood sample: 2 mL.
Tube: Violet screw capped tube containing EDTA anticoagulant.
Specimen: Whole blood.
Test procedure
For estimation of serum osteocalcin
The serum osteocalcin level was assessed by Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) by COBAS immunoassay auto analyzer in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, BSMMU. Result of serum osteocalcin level was based on reference range. Test result was given within 15-20 minutes.
Reference range of serum osteocalcin: In case of adult male, it is 5.8-14.0 ng/mL and in case of adult female it is 3.10-14.4 ng/mL (11).
Grading of serum osteocalcin: In osteopenia it is 19.25±5.09 ng/mL, in mild osteoporosis it is 21.34±3.9 ng/mL and in severe osteoporosis it is 22.9±4.9 ng/mL (Singh, Kumar & Lal, 2015).
For calculation of NLR
Neutrophil-lymphocyte differential count obtained from CBC report which was estimated by Hematology Autoanalyzer (Sysmex XN-2000) which again confirmed manually by peripheral blood smear.
NLR was calculated from dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count.
Range of NLR: Between 0.78 and 3.53 (Forget et al., 2017).
NLR in osteopenia is 2.37±1.00 and in osteoporosis is 2.54±1.45 (10).
For measurement of BMD
BMD measured by DEXA scan.
BMD grading according to WHO on the basis of T-score (8).
Normal BMD – T-score ≥ -1
Osteopenia – T-score < -1 and > -2.5
Osteoporosis – T-score ≤ -2.5
Distribution of the study subjects according to T-score of femoral neck observed that almost two third (64.0 Percentage) subjects had osteopenia followed by 10 (20.0%) osteoporosis and 8 (16.0%) normal.The mean (±SD) T-score of femoral neck was 0.43±0.92 in normal, -1.79±0.41 in osteopenia and -3.01±0.66 in osteoporosis. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001) among the subjects.
In this current study, it was observed that most of the patient of osteopenia and osteoporosis were in 51-60 years age group. The mean(±SD) age was 55.25±12.44 years in normal, 63.06±6.46 years in osteopenia and 63.5±8.18 years in osteoporosis. Differences of mean(±SD) age among the subjects were statistically significant (p=0.044).
Serum osteocalcin: In case of adult male, it is 5.8-14.0 ng/mL and in case of adult female it is 3.10-14.4 ng/mL (11). p value reached from ANOVA test
The mean (±SD) serum osteocalcin was 13.88±1.11 ng/mL in normal, 20.84±5.21 ng/mL in osteopenia and 24.32±5.24 ng/mL in osteoporosis. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001) among the subjects.
Reference range of NLR: 0.78-3.53 (Forget et al. 2017), p value reached from ANOVA test
The mean (±SD) NLR was 3.11±2.8 in normal, 4.49±2.04 in osteopenia and 6.35±2.2 in osteoporosis. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.010) among the subjects.
Figure 1 shows that there is a negative correlation between serum osteocalcin with T-score (r=-0.812). It was observed that the Pearson’s correlation statistically significant (p=0.002).
Figure 2 shows that there is a negative correlation between NLR with T-score (r=-0.826). It was observed that the Pearson’s correlation statistically significant (p=0.001).
The area under the ROC curve of serum osteocalcin and NLR for prediction of osteoporosis is depicted in the above table. ROC curve was constructed using serum osteocalcin with a cut off value of 18.65 ng/mL having 67.0% sensitivity and 70.0% specificity for prediction of osteoporosis. Similarly, NLR had a best combination of sensitivity and specificity with a cut off value of 4.54 having 72.0% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity for prediction of osteoporosis. ROC curve shows, NLR having batter sensitivity 72.0% and specificity 75.0% than serum osteocalcin.
Osteoporosis, a multifactorial process, is a bone metabolic disease. It is often under diagnosed, under treated and imposed a considerable economic burden on the health system. It is one of the important causes of morbidity in elderly population worldwide, including Bangladesh. So, early diagnosis is necessary to halt the disease process. There may be an association between serum osteocalcin, NLR and BMD for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, BSMMU, Shahbag, Dhaka from the period of March 2020 to February 2021. A total of 50 patients with diagnosed case of osteoporosis from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, BSMMU and DMCH were enrolled in to the study. According to T-score of femoral neck patients were classified as normal (T-score ≥-1), osteopenia (T-score <-1 and >-2.5) and osteoporosis (T-score ≤-2.5). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum osteocalcin, NLR with BMD for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. In this present study, according to T-score of femoral neck it was observed that 16.0% subjects were normal, 64.0% were osteopenia and 20.0% were osteoporosis. We observed that the mean (±SD) T-score of femoral neck was 0.43±0.92 in normal group, -1.79±0.41 in osteopenia and -3.01±0.66 in osteoporosis. Chaudhary et al. (2019) found in their study that normal was 24.2%, osteopenia was 38.5% and osteoporosis was 37.3%. Singh, Kumar and Lal (2015) study observed that there were 39.0
Serum osteocalcin and NLR has significant negative correlation with T-score of BMD. Because of high sensitivity and specificity, serum osteocalcin and NLR may be used to diagnosis of osteoporosis
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